Tuesday in Atlanta, 79th minute. Argentina trails 2-0 against Egypt, with Lionel Messi just 10 minutes away from closing the curtain on his World Cup journey. The diminutive maestro delivers a cross to Cristian Romero (79th), who powers the ball past Shobeir (83rd), before Enzo Fernandez heads home the winner in stoppage time (90th+3). Messi finishes in tears: he and his team had turned the game around in a mere fifteen minutes.

“Very few teams manage to overturn a deficit with such twists: Messi’s missed penalty, missed chances, and the Egyptian goalkeeper’s saves,” praises Jérôme Rothen in Rothen s’enflamme. This epic script followed a grueling victory three days earlier against Cape Verde. Twice pegged back, the Argentinians fought through extra time—some players even cramping up—to beat the 64th-ranked FIFA nation (3-2 a.e.t.).

Often tested in possession but unbeaten in 2026, the Albiceleste turns matches around through sheer mental fortitude. “There’s personality and temperament in this group, and that’s their strength,” notes Jérôme Rothen. “I was struck by Argentina’s solidarity,” adds 1998 World Cup winner Franck Leboeuf. “That unity can make all the difference against any opponent.”

Suffering as Argentina’s football identity

Celebrated by fans and media alike, the concept of ‘garra’—unyielding determination—has become the team’s DNA. Sacrifice and even suffering are woven into the national narrative. Sports daily Olé echoed these values the morning after the win. “Resilience isn’t bought at the pharmacy or ordered online. An epic isn’t learned; it’s lived. Argentina lives the match—endures it, battles it, and never surrenders.”

Former Senegal international and RMC Sport analyst Souleymane Diawara tempers the optimism: “A team chasing back-to-back titles can’t falter against nations like Cape Verde or Egypt. Argentina remains vulnerable and hasn’t yet faced a true football powerhouse,” he cautions. Neither Switzerland in the quarterfinal this Sunday nor England or Norway—potential semifinal foes—should trouble the Albiceleste, according to former defender Éric Di Meco. “Their path remains open all the way to the final. It’s not my favorite team to watch, but the formula works, and there’s no reason to change it.” After all, Argentina shares the record for most World Cup matches decided in extra time (12) and has triumphed in ten of those.

Stronger than in 2022?

Argentina’s 2022 Qatar triumph was built on razor-thin margins. Lionel Scaloni’s men eased past Croatia in the semifinals (3-0), but earlier rounds were nail-biters: a hard-fought win over Australia in the Round of 16 (2-1), and two heart-stopping shootout victories—against the Netherlands in the quarterfinals (2-2, 4-3 on penalties) and France in the final (2-2, 4-2 on penalties). With Angel Di Maria retired, the spine of the 2022 champions remains intact in 2026. “From the first matches, I felt this team was just as strong as in 2022,” remarks Franck Leboeuf. Jérôme Rothen and Éric Di Meco agree: the Albiceleste is “stronger than in Qatar four years ago.”

The reason lies in the group’s shared experiences and the form of its leaders. “Messi is stronger than at the last World Cup,” says Di Meco. Argentina has scored twice in every game this tournament, a feat powered by the 39-year-old’s brilliance (8 goals). Souleymane Diawara sees a flaw: “Messi can’t save Argentina forever. The day he’s shut down, the team will collapse.” Yet the nation continues to dream of a second consecutive World Cup title.